Apparatus and method for raising the elevation of a catch basin

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method are provided for raising the elevation of a catch basin during reconstruction or repaving of roadways in order to raise the elevation of existing catch basin grills to that of the new elevation of the modified roadway. The improved catch basin riser utilizes a newly formed catch basin top and spacer that each define a height dimension approximately equal to an elevated roadway dimension. The catch basin top is fabricated from concrete reinforced with galvanized rebar and angle iron. In the field, the existing catch basin grill is removed exposing the grill ledge and a prefabricated spacer is positioned on the grill ledge. The new catch basin top is bonded to the existing catch basin top and the grill is positioned upon the spacer within the new catch basin top and the existing catch basin top at the new elevation of the modified roadway.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/005,582 filed Dec. 6, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention comprises an apparatus and a method for raising the elevation of a catch basin during reconstruction or repaving of roadways. In particular, the apparatus of the present invention provides a catch basin riser that elevates the entire profile of the catch basin. More particularly, the novel apparatus provides for a method of installation that saves a great deal of time, labor and expense during the reconstruction or repaving projects.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

An improved grate riser assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,445 to Farrelly. The disclosed device is for use with catch basins and the like comprising vertically open rectangular frames with two opposing frame sections. The device further comprises inwardly projecting horizontally grate support flanges. The cooperating grates have opposite end portions of parallel spaced-apart grate members resting on the support flanges. The grate riser assembly includes two or more grate risers having vertically open, generally rectangular frames coextensive with the catch basin frame. The grate risers define opposing vertical side and end wall sections of a height substantially equal to the depth of pavement overlay. The new grate riser frame rests atop the original catch basin frame with its top edge substantially level with the top surface of the pavement overlay. Essentially, the patent to Farrelly discloses positioning one grate frame on top of another.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,905 to Wiedrich discloses a molded plastic extension member for increasing the height of manholes or catch basins when resurfacing a roadway. The extension member also defines angles of slope in order to adjust the angle of the catch basin support frame or the manhole cover support frame. Several sloped extension members may be stacked to create a desired angle of slope relative to the new road surface. In addition, the extension member includes a pocket adaptable for receiving and retaining mortar between two stacked extensions. As with the patent to Farrelly, the patent to Wiedrich discloses positioning one support frame on top of another.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2002/192023A to McNeely discloses an assembly for adjusting the elevation of a structure such as a manhole or a catch basin to be surrounded by pavement. A one-piece adapter is formed to be inserted between an existing base rim and the cover of the structure. A lower member of the adapter is received in the original base rim to be supported on an internal shoulder. An upper member of the adapter extends outwardly from the lower member of the adapter to receive the original cover while engaging the upper end of the original base rim and forming an upward extension of the rim. Additional adapters may be inserted to further increase the elevation of the structure with all the adapters being nestled within one another. In sum, the disclosed device provides simple adapters to be placed within a catch basin assembly or a manhole assembly, and then the entire original catch basin assembly or manhole assembly is covered with layers of asphalt. With respect to catch basins, this disclosure is similar to the patents to Farrelly and to Wiedrich in that the device disclosed by McNeely also teaches positioning one support frame on top of another.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art stated above and provide an economical and robust catch basin riser and an efficient method for raising the elevation of the catch basin. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of installation which would save a great deal of time, labor and expense during reconstruction or repaving projects.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an apparatus and a method and for raising the elevation of a catch basin. In particular, the catch basin riser comprises a grill spacer and a new and reinforced catch basin top to be bonded to the existing catch basin top. The present invention alleviates the problem of having to remove the original underlying catch basin top during reconstruction or repaving of a roadway. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of installation that saves a great deal of time, labor and expense during reconstruction or repaving projects.

The method for raising the elevation of a catch basin according to the present invention raises the existing catch basin grill elevation to match the desired level of the “new” roadway. The method of the present invention can be employed during a variety of road construction projects including, but not limited to, road surface reclamation, road resurfacing, road repair, and the like, and all such road construction projects will be referred to herein as producing a “new” roadway. The elevation of the catch basin riser of the present invention is set to a desired elevation, with respect to the elevation of the new roadway, by construction and insertion of a spacer which is inserted into the existing catch basin. Preferably, the spacer is fabricated from galvanized iron, and also may be fabricated from any other suitable material.

The new catch basin top comprises reinforced concrete of any desired thickness and such catch basin tops are made available for each particular reconstruction or repaving application. Preferably, the unit is fabricated from reinforced self-compacting concrete settling at the desired thickness for the roadway project. Each unit is bonded to the existing catch basin top to allow repaving without the need to remove or replace the existing catch basin top. The method selected for bonding one concrete surface to another may be any one of a number of known conventional techniques. One preferred method comprises the use of an epoxy-concrete bonding mix.

The catch basin top according to the present invention contains several angle iron and rebar reinforcements in order to provide stability for transport, installation and use. As described in more detail with reference to the figures, a preferred catch basin top comprises galvanized angle iron reinforcement and a galvanized flat steel bar at its front face, the curbside face. The catch basin top further comprises galvanized angle iron reinforcement around the open face of the top juxtaposed to the grill spacer. Although it is preferred that the catch basin riser of the present invention comprise angle and rebar reinforcements, other methods of reinforcement are considered within the scope of this invention.

The present invention also discloses a method of installing the catch basin riser. The installation of the catch basin riser is accomplished by removing the existing catch basin grill in the field and exposing the ledge, flange, angle iron protrusion, or the like in the existing catch basin top upon which the grill was previously seated (hereinafter referred to as the “ledge”). The prefabricated spacer is positioned within the existing catch basin upon the exposed ledge. The new catch basin top is bonded onto the existing catch basin top and the original grill is positioned upon the spacer and proximate to the inner surfaces of the new catch basin top and the existing catch basin top. Moreover, if the catch basin grills in a particular area of a road construction project are at risk for being pulled up or out-of-place by hot truck tires, then the grill spacers can be tack-welded onto the existing catch basin top angle iron ledge, and the grill can be tack-welded onto the grill spacer to prevent any lifting problem. The catch basin is then ready for repaving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a plan view of a catch basin riser according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 provides a plan view of the catch basin riser of FIG. 1 taken along an elevation section.

FIG. 3 provides a sectional view taken along line A-A of the catch basin riser of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A provides a side view of a catch basin riser assembly according to the present invention and FIG. 4B provides a top view of the assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of a catch basin riser (10) according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The catch basin top (18) is shown together with the catch basin top grill (12). As shown in FIG. 2, catch basin top (18) further comprises galvanized rebar reinforcements (14), galvanized angle iron reinforcements (16), and galvanized flat steel bar (20).

FIG. 3 provides a sectional view of the catch basin riser (10), the catch basin top (18) and the galvanized rebar reinforcements (14). The insertion of the catch basin riser spacer (22) allows for the grill (12) to be elevated to match the elevation of the new roadway. Catch basin top (18) is fabricated to define a height dimension approximately equivalent to that of the height dimension of spacer (22) in order to fully enclose grill (12). Catch basin top (18) is bonded to the existing catch basin top (24). Note that the height of the spacer (22) and the catch basin top (18) are approximately equivalent to each other and to the increased elevation of the new roadway surface. Accordingly, the grill (12), or any suitable existing grate or the like, is raised and supported to match the elevation of the new roadway surface.

FIG. 4A provides a side view of the catch basin top (18) bonded to the existing catch basin top (24). The existing catch basin top (24) is not removed during reconstruction or repaving. The catch basin top (18) is bonded to the existing catch basin top (24) along seam (26). As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4B, grill (12) is then placed within both the existing catch basin top (24) and the catch basin top (18) of the present invention.

The installation of a catch basin riser (10) according to the present invention is accomplished in such a manner in order to save a great deal of time, labor and expense during reconstruction or repaving projects. Referring to FIG. 3, the installation of the catch basin riser is accomplished by removing the catch basin grill (12) in the field and exposing the ledge in the existing catch basin top (24) upon which the grill (12) was previously seated. Prefabricated spacer (22) is then positioned within the existing catch basin top (24) upon the exposed ledge. Catch basin top (18) is bonded onto the existing catch basin top (24). Finally, the grill (12) is positioned upon the spacer (22) and proximate to the inner surfaces of catch basin top (18) and existing catch basin top (24). 

1. A catch basin riser comprising: a) a catch basin top comprising reinforced concrete; b) a catch basin grill; and c) a catch basin riser spacer.
 2. The catch basin riser of claim 1 wherein the catch basin top and the spacer each define a height dimension approximately equivalent to a specified dimension.
 3. The catch basin riser of claim 2 wherein the specified dimension is approximately equal to an increase in a roadway elevation.
 4. The catch basin top of claim 1 further comprising galvanized reinforcements embedded therein.
 5. The catch basin top of claim 4 wherein the galvanized reinforcements comprise galvanized rebar embedded within the concrete and positioned generally perpendicular from an opening in the catch basin top suitable for a flow of storm water drainage.
 6. The catch basin top of claim 4 wherein the galvanized reinforcements further comprise galvanized angle iron embedded within the concrete and positioned proximate to an inner face of the catch basin top for supporting the positioning of the grill upon the spacer.
 7. The catch basin top of claim 4 wherein the reinforced concrete further comprises a flat bar positioned along a curbside face of the catch basin top.
 8. A method for raising the elevation of a catch basin comprising: a) removing a catch basin grill and exposing a grill ledge; b) positioning a spacer upon the grill ledge; c) positioning a new catch basin top over an existing catch basin top; d) bonding the new catch basin top onto the existing catch basin top; and e) positioning the grill upon the spacer.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein step (d) further comprises utilizing an epoxy concrete mix.
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein step (b) further comprises utilizing a prefabricated spacer.
 11. The method of claim 8 wherein the spacer and the new catch basin top each define a height dimension approximately equivalent to an increase in a roadway elevation.
 12. The method of claim 8 wherein step (c) further comprises utilizing a new catch basin top wherein the catch basin top comprises galvanized reinforcements embedded therein.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the catch basin top further comprises galvanized rebar embedded within the concrete and positioned generally perpendicular from an opening in the catch basin top suitable for a flow of storm water drainage.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the catch basin top further comprises galvanized angle iron embedded within the concrete and positioned proximate to an inner face of the catch basin top for supporting the positioning of the grill upon the spacer. 